Former President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has joined global leaders, policymakers, scholars, and strategic thinkers at an international experts’ workshop in Lake Como, Italy.
The Independent Mirror reports that the event is expected to make a strong case for Africa to move beyond aid dependency and embrace strategic partnerships anchored on trade, investment, industrialisation, stronger institutions, domestic resource mobilisation, and African agency.
According to a statement signed by Yusuph Olaniyonu, Head of the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office, Abuja on Sunday, the gathering is organised by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), the foundation named after former German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer. The central theme of the workshop is: “Big Daddy Gone? Global Partnerships Without U.S. Leadership.
Speaking ahead of his session, Saraki said: “This is a question that will define the coming decade. What does global partnership look like when it is no longer led by Washington? For too long, Africa’s relationship with the world has been framed around aid.
The real opportunity is partnership through trade, investment, and mutual interest that treats Africa as an equal, not a recipient. “A shifting global order is not a vacuum to fear. It is an opening to build something better.” He added.
The workshop, which began on Monday, June 29, and will run until July 1, will feature Saraki as a speaker during the fifth panel on Tuesday afternoon. He will present the African perspective on the topic: “Development Policies: Withdrawal of the United States from International Development — Opportunities and Challenges.”
Although there are only two African participants among the 22 delegates, Saraki was selected to present the African perspective based on his extensive experience in both the private and public sectors, as well as his service as Nigeria’s President of the Senate, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and Governor of Kwara State.
He will be joined on the panel by Dr. Paola Bautista de Alemán, Vice President for Training and Programmes at Primero Justicia, Venezuela, and Prof. Christian Leuprecht, Professor at the Royal Military College, Canada.
The session will be chaired by Dr. Tilmann Feltes, Policy Advisor, Division Analysis and Consulting, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Germany.
Other sub-themes to be explored during the conference include “The United States in 2030: Western Hemisphere First — Indo-Pacific Second? Strategic Priorities of the United States of America,” “Germany’s Priorities for Strong International Partnerships,” “Partners, Competitors, Rivals — New Alliances Around the Globe,” the fireside chat titled “The Western Hemisphere and the US — Back to 1823?”, as well as “Strategic (Inter-)Dependencies and New Opportunities” and “New Defence Partnerships.”
The workshop, which concludes on Wednesday, has attracted participants from Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Israel, Italy, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Australia, India, Argentina, Venezuela, the Philippines, Chile, Liberia, and Poland.
